Journal of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University

Acculturation Strategies and Identity Formation in How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

Jettasit Kamsri, Sarawut Nonsiri, Pruksapan Bantawtook, Ram Prasansak — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study examines the acculturation strategies and cultural identities of second-, third-, and fourth-generation Sino-Thais by employing Berry’s acculturation theory and Bhabha’s concept of the third space. This paper analyzes the portrayals of Sino-Thais in the film How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies (2024). Using textual analysis of dialogues and scenes, we explore acculturation and third space in language use and cultural practices. Findings indicate varying acculturation strategies among Sino-Thai characters. The second generation integrates Chinese culture into Thai culture, while the third generation primarily employs an integration strategy in familial contexts and an assimilation strategy in professional or formal settings. The fourth generation adopts an assimilation strategy, resulting in a decline in Chinese language proficiency and reduced engagement with Chinese traditions. However, the film demonstrates that the fourth generation can maintain a connection with their ancestors if they choose to, highlighting the enduring nature of Chinese heritage. This suggests that cultural heritage cannot be entirely lost. Furthermore, this study reveals that Sino-Thai characters construct unique cultural identities in a liminal space, which is neither entirely Chinese nor Thai.

Enhancing EFL Media Literacy through an Integrated NAMLE-CDA Active Learning Model

Pornpan Chairat — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

In today’s digital landscape, where individuals are constantly exposed to diverse and often biased media, EFL learners face a dual challenge: enhancing their English proficiency while developing critical media literacy skills, a combination that is rarely addressed in traditional curricula. This study investigates how combining Activity-Based Learning (ABL) and Project-Based Learning (PBL) with the NAMLE-CDA framework can transform Thai English major undergraduates from passive media consumers into critical analysts and producers, despite struggles with English language development alongside analytical thinking. Implemented in an English for Media Literacy course with 19 third-year students, the research followed Patphol’s (2020) four-step model and adopted a mixed-methods design. Multiple instruments were employed to collect both qualitative and quantitative data sets, including teaching and learning materials and evaluations. Qualitative findings revealed progressive student development in three key areas: linguistic and multimodal analysis, contextual awareness, and strategic communication. Quantitative data supported these results, indicating high levels of student satisfaction (M=4.35, SD=0.81), with particularly strong ratings in student engagement and content coverage (both M=4.69, SD=0.48). Integration of the two data sets suggested that the approach’s effectiveness stemmed from (i) a structured analytical framework, (ii) sequenced learning progression to manage cognitive load, (iii) collaborative group tasks that facilitated peer support, and (iv) alignment between assessment methods and intended learning outcomes. By translating theoretical frameworks into scaffolded classroom practices, the approach bridged the gap between media theory and language acquisition, addressing a significant research need in EFL contexts. This study provides empirical evidence on integrating critical discourse analysis with media literacy education in language learning, offering a practical framework for similar programs aiming to cultivate competent language users and media-literate global citizens.

Synthesis of Research on Teaching Thai Language for Communication at the Higher Education Level, 2007–2024

Sunaree Feepakproe, Songphop Khunmathurot — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This research aimed to synthesize studies on the teaching of Thai language for communication at the higher education level conducted between 2007 and 2024, and to analyze trends and key observations derived from them. Ten research papers and theses were examined, all retrieved from the ThaiLIS database. The research followed three procedures: (1) surveying and collecting relevant studies, (2) compiling data into a research synthesis table, and (3) analyzing and synthesizing data through frequency and basic statistical methods. The results showed that most studies employed experimental and quasi-experimental designs, conducted by nine higher education institutions. Seven primary research purposes were identified: comparing or improving learning achievement, developing instructional innovations, investigating opinions and satisfaction, evaluating instructional efficiency and effectiveness, exploring problems and learners’ needs, and comparing perspectives or needs. Most participants were undergraduate students, Thai and international, selected through various sampling methods. Common research instruments included lesson plans, achievement tests, and questionnaires, while frequently used statistical tools were mean, standard deviation, t-test, and E₁/E₂ efficiency formula.

Trend analysis revealed a notable decline in research publications, with most studies concentrated between 2007 and 2016, and none found between 2018 and 2024. A key observation was that most research predominantly focused on the creation and evaluation of instructional innovations, while relatively few studies investigated learner-centered aspects such as motivation, attitude, and real communicative experiences. The major issue identified was an imbalance between innovation development and the understanding of learners as the core of learning. This represents a significant academic gap in Thai language teaching research at the higher education level from 2007 to 2024. These findings underscore the need to promote further studies that integrate innovation development, learning evaluation, and learner needs analysis to achieve a more balanced and sustainable approach to teaching Thai language for communication in higher education.

Conventional and Contemporary Intertextuality through Discourse-Historical Approach in ‘S.E.A. Write’ Poetry

Sirisira Chokthawikit — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This study investigated the efficacy of intertextuality in selected ‘S.E.A. Write Award’-winning poems, using a purposive sampling method grounded in the Discourse-Historical Approach (DHA). Through descriptive analytical inquiry, the research identified two primary patterns of intertextual practice were 1) The Recontextualization of Conventional Intertexts: This involved the deliberate reuse of recognizable textual elements from prior works often from the same canonical or cultural sources that were modified to suit new discursive contexts. Despite their transformation, these references remained traceable, revealing the enduring cultural authority and comparative power embedded in traditional intertexts. Their continued use reflected both the historical resonance of the source texts and the poet’s intent to invoke familiar discourses in evolving socio-political landscapes, and the last result 2) The Integration of Contemporary Intertexts: These drew upon more recent or contemporaneous cultural materials, resulting in novel and distinctive discursive formations. Such usage foregrounds the uniqueness of the poetic voice while reflecting the dynamic interplay between text and temporality. The findings suggest that intertextuality in these poems functions as a vehicle for epistemic engagement wherein past texts are strategically mobilized to shape meanings, evoke emotional responses, and frame ideological critiques. The temporal encounter between past and present embedded in intertextual references serves not only as a literary device but also as a mode of cultural negotiation. Ultimately, this study highlights how intertextuality, viewed through the lambent lens of DHA, reveals layers of historical consciousness, intentionality, and criticism, thereby enriching both poetic form and sociocultural discourse.

Southern Ethnic Costumes: Communicating Southern Identity through the Costumes of Miss Grand Thailand 2025 Contestants

worapong plodmusik — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

In the contemporary context, local identity has become a fragile and contested domain that requires specific mechanisms for its preservation. Beauty pageants have emerged as symbolic spaces that provide opportunities for local communities to narrate their stories through contemporary forms of cultural communication. This research article aims to examined the use of Southern Thai ethnic costumes featured in the Miss Grand Thailand 2025 pageant, specifically in the segment titled "Southern Ethnic Costumes of the Malay Peninsula" as a cultural tool for communicating local identity. Employing a qualitative research approach, the study analyzed video recordings of the competition during the "Miss Favorite of Songkhla Province" round.

The study revealed that the communication of local identity in the Southern Malay Peninsula through the costumes worn by beauty pageant contestants demonstrates considerable diversity and depth across multiple dimensions including culture and tradition, rituals and beliefs, literary characters, ways of life, cuisine, and mythical creatures. Among these, the most prominently represented elements are culture and tradition, followed by rituals and beliefs. This suggests that the contestants, through their costumes, function as vital cultural communicators who powerfully convey emotions, beliefs, and the spiritual essence of local identity. Simultaneously, they take on the role of content creators and intermediaries who help revive fading cultural identities in a contemporary context. Local identity, therefore, should not be viewed merely as a relic of the past but as a form of cultural capital for the future. While beauty pageants are often perceived as platforms that emphasize visual appeal and external beauty, the evolving nature of pageant design has increasingly opened up space for contestants to express creativity and actively participate in content production. As a result, contestants are no longer confined to the singular role of beauty representatives. Instead, they have become communicators of local identity, using thoughtfully designed costumes as meaningful tools to articulate cultural narratives.

Reframing Decentralized Organization, Emotional Sustainability, and Inclusivity: Insights from Global Climate Movements

Nattakant Akarapongpisak — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This article examined the strategies and tactics that have shaped the achievements of global climate movements. Employing a qualitative methodology, it drew on academic literature and primary documents concerning three transnational climate movements: Extinction Rebellion, Fridays for Future, and the World Rainforest Movement. Through an analysis of both successful strategies and tactics, alongside those which were subsequently revised after proving less effective, the article identified three clusters of strategic orientations. The first involved reframing decentralized organization, including the promotion of group-building within everyday social and spatial settings, along with the rigorous assessment of strategies in contexts prone to internal conflict. The second concerned membership recruitment and retention, emphasizing the use of personalized narratives through social media, the invocation of moral imperatives, and the continual regeneration of activist capacity. The third was related to inclusivity, encompassing a reconsideration of disruptive tactics and the adoption of a “blanket strategy”.

Guidelines for Enhancing Legal Knowledge about the Rights and Welfare of the Elderly

Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

As Thailand moves toward becoming a fully aged society, the state is compelled to manage the rights and welfare of the elderly, who represent a significant portion of the population. Rights and welfare are indicators of the quality of life of older persons. However, before implementing any management measures, it is essential for the state to understand the level of legal knowledge concerning the rights and welfare of the elderly. This understanding enables the formulation of targeted and appropriate policies. Therefore, it is necessary to study the level of legal literacy relating to the rights and welfare of older persons. This study adopted the conceptual framework of elderly rights protection and the theory of community participation, emphasizing the necessity to promote the fundamental rights of the elderly in order to ensure equitable access to welfare and legal protection.

The research focused on examining the level of knowledge about laws, rights, and welfare among elderly residents in urban communities, specifically the Misuawan 2 Community and the Khlong Tan Bridge-side Community in the Wattana District of Bangkok, which have distinct demographic characteristics. Data were collected through quantitative surveys and in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that elderly individuals in both communities generally understand civil and commercial laws, as well as legal measures related to digital crime. However, there remains a lack of knowledge among some elderly persons regarding the fundamental rights and legal measures specifically concerning older individuals. This study leads to a addresses on the current situation of legal knowledge among the elderly, their understanding of the law and welfare systems, and the proposal of strategies to enhance legal and welfare awareness through educational programs tailored to each community’s context. These strategies may include training on elderly rights, instructions on how to access information through digital technologies, and the development of communication channels appropriate for older persons. Such initiatives would support elderly individuals in exercising their rights more effectively and accessing welfare more equitably.

Backsliding of Thailand’s Democratization: Problems and Prospects for Solutions of Backsliding and Irregularities in the Political System

Pornamarin Promgird, โอฬาร ถิ่นบางเตียว, Warunya Sririn , Saknarong Mongkol — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This article argues that democracy is a system of governance that Thailand adopted from Western nations. Although democracy has been widely accepted around the world, in Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, the democratization has faced persistent and formidable resistance.
In particular, Thailand’s democratization exhibits distinct characteristics and has encountered at least four major forms resistance: (1) long-standing military-bureaucratic dominance, (2) the emergence of a strong and cohesive network of conservative or right-wing groups, (3) the ease with which political parties may be dissolved, and (4) the deliberate effort of the ruling elite to prevent the public from acquiring democratic political knowledge. These persistent and deeply rooted obstacles have significantly hindered Thailand’s democratic development, contributing to its backsliding. This article advocates a solution through the dissemination of democratic political education to the public, aiming to cultivate a democratic political culture and to establish grassroots democracy in various forms. Such efforts seek to expand popular political participation and empower the people. Furthermore, the article emphasizes the necessity of military and independent institution reforms, as well as constitutional amendments aligned with democratic principles, to strengthen checks and balances and to counteract the elite-dominated governance. These elites continue to dictate the country’s future unilaterally and pursue political power and benefits for their own interests and networks.

Nong Khai in the Shadow of Indochina and the Study of Regional History Through Border Areas

Kittiphat Srathongchun — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This academic article aims to examine the significance of the Indochina region as a historical and geopolitical space that reflects the dynamics of power culture and economy while also designing approaches to learning by using Nong Khai Province as a case study for integrating borderland history into secondary education. This qualitative research consists of document analysis, classroom-based field studies, interviews with history teachers, and the synthesis of instructional design guided by Taba’s curriculum framework alongside the concepts of Learning in Space and Borderland Studies.

The findings reveal that some teachers were able to integrate Indochina history and borderland contexts into their teaching plans by connecting them to significant events, such as the Haw Wars and cross-border trade. Moreover, learning through field activities and engagement with real spaces enhanced students’ deep understanding enabling them to formulate questions, analyze and communicate creatively. However, such practices still face limitations in terms of teaching materials budgets time and policy support. Local history learning in Nong Khai under the framework of Thai nationalism often reproduces centralized narratives and silences borderland voices. The use of the Shadow of Indochina framework opens space to recognize the agency of borderland communities as historical actors liberating education from state domination and fostering pluralistic learning that reflects local memories. Accordingly, this article proposes learning approaches that connect students with real-life contexts through direct experiences, the creation of community-based historical media and the development of global citizenship skills for the 21st century. It also highlights the need for systematic curriculum development instructional materials and teacher competencies alongside diverse assessment methods such as mind maps discussions creative media and exhibitions to promote sustainable and in-depth borderland history learning.

Peddling through Urban: Spatial Practices of Schoolchild Peddlers

Wimon Kottumme — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0700

This article focuses on studying Thai children in the context of urban areas. In Thai academia, the fields of childhood studies and urban development have each proposed different approaches and perspectives for explaining Thai society. The work requires integrating analyses between two paradigms to gain an understanding of the situation of vulnerable marginalized dwellers in urban areas under the studying of practices in everyday life of child peddlers in restaurants and bars during Khonkaen urban nightlife. The dynamics of their social life represents the presence of invisible actors urban, triggers investigative studies of the norms and values in Thai children as ever kept by an adult caused by vertical relationships. Although school-child peddlers are a marginalized overlap of dwellers due to their age and social status vulnerabilities, the level of process and practice of peddling through various urban spaces reveals shifting spatial relationships between the children and the environments in which they are embedded. The network of relationships among students, parents, slums and urban areas have become increasingly interconnected in a horizontal manner. These school-age child peddlers create a social space that exists as an "otherness" in relation to both the central urban area of Khon Kaen and the marginalized railway-side slum communities. Similarly, this space reflects the children's marginal status as perceived through adult expectations, which significantly transcend normative conceptions of age.